Recorder



G. R. WOOD Sept. 21, 1937.

RECORDER Filed March 17, 1934 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 fwd Bmw ATrORN EY .NGE

G. R. WOOD Sept. 21, 1937.

RECORDER Filed March 17, 1934 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 21, 1937.

G. R. woon 2,093,533

RECORDER Filed March 17, 1934 7 ShetS-Sheet 3 INVENTOR G. R. WOOD Sept. 21, 1937.

RECORDER Filed March 17, 1934 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 G. R. WOOD Sept. 21, 1937.

RECORDER Filed March 17, 1934 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 G. R. WOOD Sept. 21, 1937.

RECORDER Filed March 1'7, 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 asalmlmfm@ l V INVENTOR @M Sept. 21, 1937.

G. nwoon 2,093,533

-RECORDER Filed March 17, 1934 '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR TTORNEY Patented Sept. 21, 1937 PATENT OFFICE RECORDER.

George B. Wood, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, assignor to International Business Machines Corporation, New York,

New York Application March 17,

14 Claims.

'Ihis invention relates to time recorders in general.

The broad object of the present invention is to provide a novel time measuring and recording device which is capable of general use but is also admirably adapted for use in recording on suitable record media the time spent on telephone toll calls. f

Charges for telephone calls are based principally on three things; the distance between the two subscribers stations involved, the length of time required for the call to be completed, and the time of day when the call is made. It is customary to allow a period of three minutes to complete the call, for which period a charge is made which is based on the distance apart of the stations or exchanges involved and if this time is exceeded an additional charge is made for the additional predetermined periods of time needed to complete the call. It has been the custom of the telephone companies to charge less for calls made during certain parts of the day or night, when the lines are less active, than at times when the lines are very busy. Thus, a common practice is to charge full rates during the day, say from 4:30 a. xn. to 7:00 p. m., while from 7:00 pl m. to 8:30 p. m. and from 8:30 p. m., to 4:30 a. m., respectively, still lower rates are in effect, the rates during the last named period being the lowest of all.

'I'he accurate determination of the time consumed by toll calls is a very annoying and troublesome problem i'or` the telephone companies. 'I'he operators usually are kept very busy making connections for subscribers, particularly, in exchanges serving business districts, and it is diillcult for them to keep in mind the starting and stopping times o! a dozen calls being made simultaneously besides performing necessary routine clerical work such as noting down for each call the numbers of the station calling and the station called.

Much of this Yclerical work must be done with one hand whilel the operator is using the other in establishing a connection for a subscriber. Mistakes frequently occur with the result that the bills are made out incorrectly and the subscriber is either overcharged or undercharged. In the i'ormer case disputes arise between the subscriber and telephone company and much bad feeling is produced while in the latter case there is a loss of revenue by the telephone company.

Conventional time stamps have been used for recording the starting and nishing time of toll calls but are not a complete solution of the prob- N. Y., a corporation of 1934. Serial No. (Cl. 234-54) lem as it is still possible for the operator to confuse the starting and nnish times of two calls.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a telephone toll recorder which is extremely simple o1' construction and operation and requires little of the operators attention, which, in fact, can be operated by touch.

Another object of the invention is to provide a telephone toll recorder which reduces to a minimum the amount of clerical work required of an operator.

A further object is to provide a telephone toll recorder which is capable of accurately measuring and recording the periods of time required to complete several simultaneous calls none of which may have been started or nished together.

Another object is to' provide a telephone toll recorder which is capable of indicating the rate which is to be used in billing the subscriber for the call.

A specific object is to provide a telephone toll recorder of large capacity wherein the various mechanisms are power driven under control of a low powered timing device or clock.

Another specific object is to provide a telephone toll recorder wherein the use of ink or inking devices is avoided.

A further specific object is to provide a telephone toll recorder which records the time required for each call on a suitable card or other record media individual to that call.

Still another object is to provide means for locking the card or other record media in the recorder until the time required to make the call has been recorded.

Other speciilc objects are to provide a telephone toll recorder which is simple and compact in construction, completely self-contained, cheap to manufacture, and has a large capacity for measuring and recording the time required for calls to be made.

Various other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be speciilcally mentioned in the following description and claims or will be apparent from a study of said description, the claims, and the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the recorder.

Fig. 2 is a view of a form of record sheet adapted for use with the present invention.

' Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line 3 3 in Fig. 1.

Figs. 4 and 5 are vertical transverse sections on the lines 4 4 and 5 5 in Fig. 1.

Figs. 6 and 'I are vertical longitudinal sections on the lines 8 6 -and 1-1 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a vertical transverse section on line 8-8 in Fig. 1. v

Fig. 9 is a detail view in elevation of the mechanism for controlling the recording of the rate by the recording units. Y

Fig. 10 is a detail view in elevation of the driving means for the recording units.

Fig. 11 is a detail vertical transverse section on the line II-II in Fig. l.

Figs. 12, 13, 14, and 15 are horizontal sections on the lines I2-l2, |3-| 3, l4|4, and |5-l5, respectively, in Fig. 11.

Fig. 16 is a diagram of the electrical connections.

Fig. 1'7 is a vertical section on the line |1|1 of Fig. 8.

The recorder is contained in a suitable casing l or housing 28 which may also serve to 'support part of the mechanism. As shown in Fig. 5, the housing 28 is provided with a shoulder 2l adapted to support the recorder in a suitably shaped aperture in the switchboard. Conveniently the recorder can be mounted adjacent the rows of plugs forl the cord circuits of the switchboard. The' housing 28 is closed at the bottom by a base plate 22 secured to said housing and adapted to support part of the mechanism. A circular opening 23 (Figs. 4 and 11) in the top of the housing 28 is closed by a disk 24 which is part of the framework of the clock unit to be described in detail later. The disk 24 supports a plate 24a. which in turn supports a clock dial 25 protected by a glass 26, the Aglass being held in place by a bezel 21 secured to casing 28 by the same screws securing plate 24. The clock dial 25 is slightly dished to provide room for the clock hands 28 to turn. The latter are mounted in the usual fashion, that is, the minutes hand is secured to the minutes arbor 29 surrounded by an hour sleeve 38 to which sleeve is secured the hour hand, both the sleeve and arbor projecting through suitable holes in disk 24, plate 24a, and dial 25.

The driving train for the minutes arbor 29 and hour sleeve 38 is best illustrated in Figs. 3, 4, 11, 12, and 13. 'I'he recorder is timed by an electric motor 3| which may be of the well-known alternating current, synchronous type now very commonly used in electric clocks and timing devices of dierent kinds. The motor 3| is mounted on the underside of the top yface of the casing 28 by means ofl screws 32 (Fig. 3) which pass through sleeves 33 and the pole pieces of the motor 3i and are threaded into posts 34. Secured to the posts 34 is a plate 35 which has a bearing for a shaft 36 geared to motor 3|. The gearing (not shown) is such that this shaft rotates constantly at a speed of one revolution per minute.

The shaft 36 is socketed in a vertical shaft 31 having a pin andslot connection to shaft 36. The lower end of shaft 31 is journaled in base plate 22 and carries a ratchet wheel 38 (Figs. 3 and 4) and a gear 39. The latter meshes with a gear 48 loosely` mounted on a second vertical shaft 4| parallel-with shaft 31. Adjacent gear 40 is a friction disk 42 integral with a hub secured to shaft 4|. On the side of gear 48 opposite to the friction disk 42 is a sleeve 43 slidably mounted on shaft 4| but having a pin and slot connection to the shaft 4| to permit said sleeve to slide on said shaft without slipping. The lower end of sleeve 43 abuts an adjusting nut 44 threaded on a shoulder formed in shaft 4|. Interposed between the gear 48 and the upper end of sleeve 43 is a washer or disk 45 and a double box spring 46. By suitably adjusting nut 44 suficient friction can be produced between disk 42 and gear 48 to cause the shaft 4| to be driven by gears 39, 48 when the motor 3l is receiving current.

The lower end of shaft 4| `is journaled in base plate 22 and carries a knurled knob 41 by means of which shaft 4| can be rotated manually to set the hands 28 of the clock of which the gearing 39, 48 may be considered part of the time train.

'Ihe upper end of shaft 4| is journaled in the lower frame plate 48 of two spaced frame plates 48, 49 (Figs. 4 and 11) carrying certain gearing forming part of the time train and dial works of the clock. 'Ihe plates 48, 49 are spaced from each other and the underside of the top face of housing 28 by means of sleeves 58, 5| through which plates and sleeves pass screws 52 suspending said plates from the housing 28. Secured to the upper end of shaft 4| above' frame 48 is a cam 53 of fabricized composition like Bakelite, for instance, and a pinion 54 which may be of metal.

'I'he ratio of the gears 39, 48 is unity, therefore, it is obvious that shaft 4I, cam 53, and pinion 54 will all rotate at the rate of one revolution per minute.

'I'he pinion 54 meshes with a gear 55 (Fig. 13) secured to a pinion 56 which in turn meshes with agear 51, also of Bakelite or similar material,

journaled in a socket in the end of shaft 4I. AThe gear 55 and pinion 56 are carried by a stud 58 ysecured to plate 48 and the ratio of the train of gearing comprising pinions 54, 56 and gears 55, 51 is such that minutes arbor 29 makes one revolution per hour. Secured to gear 51 is a smaller gear 59 which meshes with a larger gear 68 (Fig..12) to which is secured a long pinion 6|, gear 68 and pinion 6| being journaled on a stud 62 suspended from the plate 49. The pinion 6i meshes with a large gear 63 (Figs. 11 and 12) secured to the hour sleeve 38.

The ratios of the gears 59, 68, 63 and pinion 6| are so chosen that sleeve 38 makes one revolution in twelve hours. Secured to gear 63 is a smaller gear 64 meshing with a gear 65 twice the size of gear 64 so that the gear 65 is driven at the rate of one revolution in twenty-four hours. The gear 65 is :lournaled in a screw stud carried by -frame 49.

The cam 53, gear 51, and gear 65 operate or control certain contacts the purpose of which will be explained more fully hereinafter. The plate 49 carries a stud 66 surrounded by a sleeve or bushing 61 (Fig. 14) of insulating material such as Bakelite. Pivoted on the sleeve 61 and properly spaced from each other by suitable insulating bushings are two pairs of cam followers 68, 69 and 18, 1|. The cam followers 68, 69 are adapted to be operated by cam 53 and are held against the periphery of said cam by springs like 12 (Fig. 14) and have coacting contacts 13 which, when both followers lare resting on the periphery of cam 53 as in Fig. 14, do not touch. The follower 69 is slightly shorter than follower 68vand will be the rst to fall into the dwell of cam 53. When this happens the contacts 13 will quickly touch and close a circuit. A short time 'thereafter the follower 68 will fall into the dwell and the contacts 13 will quickly separate, thus breaking the circuit previously closed. Obviously the duration of closure of the .circuit secured to the minutes arbor 29, the latter being through contacts 13 will depend on the difference in length of followers 68, 69.

'Ihe followers 19, 1| are similarly provided with springs 12 and contacts 14 (Fig. 15) but are controlled by two diametrically opposite cam lugs 1l of insulating material secured to or integral with gear 91.

The operation ofthe followers 19, 1| is exactly the same asthe operation of followers 99, 99. In order to prevent the followers 19, 1I from dropping too far a stud 19 is provided and is supported by the plate 49. Suitable insulating bushings 19a on an insulating sleeve 19h carried by stud 19 guide the free ends oi' followers 99 to 1| inclusive'and preventthem from touching except in the desired way through contacts 19, 14.

Secured to the side of gear 99 are three contact plates 11 (Figs. 4, 11, and 13) lwhich are insulated from gear 99 and are adapted to be wiped by a pair of xed contacts 19 carried by the plate 49 and insulated from each other and plate 49. The plates 11 are so disposed that they bridge and thus electrically connect contacts 19 at 7 p. m., 8:30 p. m., and 4:30 a. m., respectively. Contacts 14 are closed for a short period once each half hour on the hour and half hour, while contacts 19 are closed momentarily once each minute, say for the period of the 60th second. Contacts 19, 14, 19 are all in series, consequently a circuit can be completed through all of them only during the 60th second of the 60th minute after 6 p. m. and the 60th second of the 30th minute after 8p. m. and 4 a. m., respectively. At all other times, at least one set o f these contacts will be open. The function of these contacts will' be explained more in detail hereinafter.

The ratchet wheel 99 is provided with sixty teeth which are quite wide and face axially of the shaft 91 instead of radially. Coacting with the teeth of ratchet wheel 99 are two members 19, 99 both of which are adapted to be operated by the teeth of the ratchet wheel. The member 19 is pivoted at 9| to a cross bar 92 carried by the casing 29 and is formed like a pawl at its free end which engages the teeth of ratchet wheel 99.

The member 99 is pivoted at 99 to the member 19 and, like the latter is shaped like a pawl and similarly engages the teeth of ratchet 99. The member 19, however, projects slightly further to the right (Fig. 4) than the member 99 so that the latter tends to fall intoy each interdental space in the ratchet wheel 99 slightly in advance of the member 19 as the ratchet wheel rotates. The right-hand end of the member 99 has an upstanding arm carrying a weight 94 while the lefthand end of member 99 extends upwardly and to the left (Fig. 4) and has secured thereto a disk 95 oi insulating material. 'I'he disk 99 underlies the lower member of a pair of spring contact members 99 insulated from each other and insulatably mounted on a bracket 99a secured to housing 29.

As ratchet whee199 rotates, the members 19, 99 will be raised in unison each time a tooth passes beneath the ends of said members. During this period suitable contacts carried by the free ends of members 99 will be separated, but the dropping of member 99 into an interdental space in advance of member 19 under the inuence of weight 94 causes a relative clockwise rocking movement between members 19, 99 to close said contacts as in Fig. 4. When member 19 drops into the same interdental space a fraction of a second later, the members 19, 99 will again move relative to each other but in a counterclockwise direction to reopen the contacts. Thus, the contacts 99 are closed once each second as the ratchet wheel 99 revolves. If desired. a light spring may be substituted for the weight 94.

'Ihe mechanism described up to this point comprises the clock, including theftime train and dial works, and the controlling means operated by the clock which serves to govern certain operations of the recording units hereinafter to be described in detail.

There are twelve recording units shown and identiiied in the drawings by the numerals I to |2 in squares (Fig. 1) lihch recording unit has a slot 91 for the reception of a blank card like that of Fig. 2. As will be apparent from the following description, as many recording units may be provided as desired. Below each slot 91, and associated therewith, is a pair of keys 99, 99 whose key caps bear the letters S" and F" respectively, standing for "start and "finish. Operation of these keys by depressing them individually initiates and terminates, respectively, the operation of the machine with respect to cards inserted in -the associated slots.

Common to all the recording units are certain driving connections which are operated electrically under control of the contacts 19, 14, 19, and 99. 'I'he power for operating these driving connections is derived from two eiectromagnets DM and RM which, for convenience, may be termed the drive magnet and rate magnet, respectively. 'I'he relation of these magnets to the rest oi the mechanism is best shown in Figs. 3. 4, 9. and 10. Referring to Figs. 3, 4, and 10, the drive magnet DM operates an armature 99 pivoted to the base 22 and having an extension to the upper end of which is pivoted a driving pawl 9|. 'Ihe free end ofthe pawl 9| rests in a closed slo`t in a bracket 92 secured to casing 29 which slot is somewhat longer than the width of the free end of pawl 9|. 'I'he pawl 9| has a tooth 99 adapted to engage the teeth of a ratchet 94 having sixty teeth and Journaled on a stud carried by housing 29.

The pawl 9| also has an irregular lug 99 having a cam portion 99a and a stop portion 99h, the cam portion cooperating with the upper edge of the slot in bracket 92. A spring 99, secured to a xed pin and a pin carried by pawl 9| normally tends to hold the armature 99 and pawi 9| in the position of Fig. 4.

Drive magnet DM and contacts 99 are in series ratchet wheel 94 has sixty teeth, it is plain that drive magnet DM will be energized sixty times per minute and ratchet wheel 94 will be rotated constantly at the rate of one revolution per minute in response to the vibration of armature 99 and pawl 9|. The purpose of cam surface 99a is to force the tooth 99 into the tooth space in ratchet 94 with which said tooth cooperates as pawl 9| moves to the right to the position of Fig. 10 where further movement of the pawi is prevented by the stop portion 95a. In this position of the parts the cam surface 99a cooperates with lug 92 to prevent the pawl 9| from rising and thereby effectually prevents overthrow of the ratchet wheel 94. 'Ihe cam surface 95a in lug 99 is approximately parallel with the longer face of the tooth in the ratchet to the left of the shorter-face engaged by tooth 99 (Fig. 10) so as to permit the pawl 9| to return to the normal position of Fig.

4 without binding. This' construction permits the use of a light spring 99 as the cam surface 95a holds the tooth 93 in engagement with the teeth of theratchet during most of the rightward stroke of pawl 9|. The s top portion 95h positively limits movement of the ratchet wheel 94 to the angular distance between two teeth.

- A pawl 91 cooperating with the teeth of ratchet 94 and operated by a spring 98 prevents reverse movement of the ratchet `wheel 94. An adjustable stop 90a, carried by a bracket 90b fixed to casing 20, limits the movement of armature 90 in a counterclockwise direction. i Secured to the side of ratchet 94 is a bevel gear 89 which meshes with a similar bevel gear secured to a transverse shaft I0 I. y This shaft is journaled in the longer sides of casing 20 and carries two identical .worms |02 driving worm. wheels |03 on longitudinal -shafts |04 journaled in the shorter sides of casing 20. The shafts |04 extend longitudinally of the machine and each is common to one of the two rows of recording units. Thus, the left hand shaft (Fig. e) is associated with the six recording units generally identified by the numbers to 6 in squares and etched or otherwise applied to casing 20 (Fig. 1), while the right hand shaft |04 is associated with recording units identified by the numbers 1 to |2. The ratios of the drive gears just described are so chosen that each shaft |04 makes one revolution in thirty minutes in the directions of the arrows on worm wheels |03 (Fig. 4).

Immediately below and parallel with shafts |04 are similar `shafts |05 journaled in the front or left-hand end of the casing (Figs. 1 and 3) and in brackets |08 carried by the longer sides of casing 20 (Figs. 3 and 4). These shafts |05 are driven in unison by a. cross shaft |01, similar to shaft |0|, through two pairs of `bevel gears |98. The cross shaft |01 is driven by shaft |0| through spur gears |09. The ratios of the gears 99, |00, |08, and |09 are all unity so that shafts |05 are rotated by ratchet wheel 94 at the rate of one revolution per minute in the direction of the arrows on gears |08 (Fig. 4).

Mounted on the shafts |04, |05 are a number of friction disks ||0, respectively (Figs. 3, 5.

and 8), there being a pair of disks ||0, forhy each of the recording units.

A complete recording unit with its parts shown in normal position is illustrated in front elevation in the right-hand half of Fig. 5, in section in Figs. 6 and '1, and in rear elevation in Fig. 8. The stem of each key of a pair 88, 89 is guided in its vertical movements by suitable openings in the top face of the casing 20 and in bent-over lugs ||2 in a frame piece ||3 secured by screws to a lug ||4 integral with base plate 22. The screws which secure frame piece |3 to lug |4 also secure a vertical frame plate |5 to said lug. The frame plate |I5 is quite narrow and extends upwardly between the keys 88, 89 and is in the same plane as said keys/ The plate ||5 is secured at its upper end by virtue of its being inserted in one or more slots formed in a bracket ||6 secured to the underside of the top face of casing 20.

Secured to the plate ||5 opposite the driving disks ||0, (Fig. '1) are two members ||1, ||8

-which in form are flanged bushings passing through suitable holes in plate I5. Rotatably mounted on the bushing portions of members ||1, I8 are friction disks ||9, |20, respectively, which are in the same plane as disks ||0, Disk I9 is associated with disk ||0 while disk |20 is associated with disk The disks ||9, |20 do not normally engage or touch their associated disks ||0, but are adapted to be driven by the latter through idler friction disks |2| carried by a'rms |22 pivotally mounted on lugs |23 integral with casing 20. 5

The free ends of arms |22 adjacent friction disks |2| rest in notches |24 in the stem of the key 89 and are linked to said key stems by means of springs |25 which hold said arms in engagement with the lower ends of said notches |29 when the key 88 is in normal position as in the right-hand half of Fig. 5 and in Fig. 6. A spring |29 secured to the stem of each key 88 and to a lug |21 mounted on plate ||5, normally holds each key 98 in normal position and is more than sumcient to overcome the weight of disks |2| and arms |22. When any key 88 is depressed, as in the lefthand half of Fig. 5 and in Fig. 8, the associated arms |22 are permitted to drop assisted by the tensioning of springs |25 until rollers |2| rest on the peripheries of disks ||0, ||9 and |20, respectively, the springs |25 producing sufcient pressure to cause disks ||9, |20 to be driven frictionally by disks ||0, as in Fig. 8. The disk ||9 will rotate at the rate of one revolution in thirty minutes while disk |20 will be driven at the rate of one revolution per minute.

In order to hold a depressed key 88 of any recording unit in depressed position for an indeterminate period, there is provided for each recording unit a bail |28 (Figs. 5, 6, and '1) carried by a short shaft |29 journaled inthe bracket ||6. This bail has apawl-shaped latch arm |30 adapted to engage a notch |3| in the stem of `key 88 when the latter is depressed and thereby hold the key 88 in the depressed position of Fig. 8. The latch arm |30 is moved in a cou'nterclockwise direction (Fig. 6) to engage notch |3| by means of a torsion spring |32 on shaft |29 and connected to a pin carried by said shaft and to bracket ||9 as shown in Figs. 5 and '1. l

Bail |28 also has an arm |33 similar to arm |30 and adapted, when arm |30 moves into notch |3|, to enter a notch |34 in the stem of'the associated key 89. When any key 88 is latched down by its associated arm |30 the free end of arm |33 will be moved by spring |32 into notch |34. Subsequent depression of the adjacent key 89 will cause notch |34 to move downwardly (Figs. 5 and '1) with the result that arms |30 and |33 will be `cammed away from the stems of keys 88, 89, releasing the key 88, whereupon spring |29 will restore the depressed key 88 and arms |22 to the position shown in the right-hand half of Fig. 5. Thus, key 88 effects connection of friction disks 55 ||9, |20 to the friction disks ||0, while key 89 effects disengagement ofv said disks and at the same time releases key 98.

Secured/to the friction disks ||9, |20 of each recording unit are restoring cams which have associated-therewith cam followers |99 provided regardless of the amount or direction of rotation imparted to any of the cams |35 from the normal `positions of Fig. 5, the cam follower of each cam tends to restore said cam to the position of Fig. 5.

Slidably mounted in the members ||1,\|.|.8`

(Fig. 7) to which are (Fig. 7) are short shafts |40 secured pricker arms |4| and flanged members |42. Secured to thc free ends of the arm |4| are pricker pins |43 which also loosely project through holes adjacent thc points in the cams |35 so that the arms |4| are positively driven by cams |35 and disks 9, |20 but are free to slide axially of the members ||1, ||6. Beneath the card slot 81 of cach recording unit is mounted a sheet metal card pocket |44 closed at the bottom and having holes |45 which confront the pricker pins |43 and are of slightly larger radii than the radius of the arc of movement of said pricker pins |43. It is obvious that movement of the two shafts |40 of each recording unit to the right (Fig. 7) will cause their associated pricker pins |43 to puncture a card which happens to be in the adjacent pocket |44. The points at which the punctures will be made will depend on the amount oi' displacement of the arms |4| and pins |43 from normal position imparted by friction disks ||0,

Movement of the shafts |40 of any recording unit to cause puncturlng of the card is produced by depressing the key 89 oi' such unit against the tension of a spring |46 which holds said key in its normal vertical position 7. Pivoted on pins |41 carried by brackets |48 secured to the frame plate ||5 of each recording unit, are two bails |46. One arm |50 of each ball projects into a notch or slot |5| (Figs. 5 and 8) in the stem of the -associated key 89 while the other arm |52 of each bail is i'ormed with opposed jaws loosely receiving the flange of a member |42. It is plain that depression of the key 8'9 of any recording unit will result in both bails |48 of such unit being rocked clockwise (Fig. 7) by arms |50 to move shafts |40 toward the card in the associated slot and will thus cause bothl the pricker pins |43 to puncture said card.

Figure 2 shows a form of record sheet adapted to be used with the recorder herein described. 'I'he upper part of the sheet has blanks for filling in the subscribers number, the station called, date, and so on. Below these blanks is the word rate beneath which appear three squares or boxes |53 identiiied by the letters D, signifying day, E, signifying evening, and N, denoting night; appearing immediately above Said boxes. A hole |54 may be punched in one of these boxes according to the time of day at which a telephone toll call is made, in order to indicate to clerks whether the day, evening, or night rate is to be used in ascertaining the charge to be made for the call. Below the three boxes |53 just mentioned appear two circular rows of gures and graduatlons corresponding to the successive positions assumed by the two pricker pins associated with a recording unit after said card has been placed in the pocket of said unit and the key 86 depressed. 'I'he perforations |55, |56 made in the sheet of Fig. 2 indicate that a call represented by the sheet required ilve minutes and fifty-two seconds of line time for the subscriber to complete.

The hole |54 in the D the call was begun when the day rate was in effect. 'I'his hole is made, when the starting key 88 is depressed to set in motion the prickers |43 for subsequently making the holes |55, |56, by mechanism actuated by the key 68. Supported by a screw stud |51 carried by the lug ||4, to which is secured the frame plate ||5 of each recording unit, is a somewhat U-shaped lever |58 whose upper end` carries a pricker pin |59 adapted to be projected through oval holes |60 in the adbox |53 indicates that jacent pocket |44. This movement of the pricker |53 through a record sheet in such pocket will puncture the sheet in one oi' the three boxes |53 according to the position of the lever |58.

Mounted beneath each pair of keys 86, 89 and secured to the casing 20 is a pair of brackets |6| (Figs. 5 to 8) supporting a pin |62 on which is pivotally mounted a bail |63. One arm |64 of each bail |63 has two opposed jaws embracing the sides of lever |56 while the other arm |65 oi said bail lies in a slot |66 in the stem of key 88. It is plain that depression of any key 88 will rock bail |63 counterclockwise (Figs. 6 and 7) and, through arm |64, force the pricker |59 into the record sheet in the associated pocket |44.

The levers |58 of all the recording units are selectively set periodically as different rates take effect. The most usual schedule of rates for telephone toll calls has the `day rates eil'ective from 4:30 a. m. to '7 p. m., the evening rates effective from 7 p. m. to 8:30 p. m. and the night rates from 8:30 p. m. to 4:30 a. m. In order to selectively control the position of lever |58 and pricker |59 of each recording unit, certain rate control mechanism is provided which is operated periodically by rate magnet RM under control of the contacts 13, 14, 18 previously This mechanism is shown ln Figs. 3, 4, and 9.

The magnet RM actuates an armature |66 pivoted on a bracket |66a secured to casing 20 on an |61 is adapted to operate a ratchet wheel |10 Journaled on a stud |1| carried by the bracket |69. The ratchet wheel |10 has twenty-four teeth and secured to it is a multi-lobed cam 12 having eight lobes, or one lobe for three successive teeth on ratchet wheel |10.

The lobes of cam |12 are all alike and are so shaped that there is a high point, a low point, and an intermediate point, each point corresponding to one of the three teeth on ratchet wheel |10 associated with a lobe. Thus, three successive vsteps of movement of the ratchet wheel will cause a cam follower lever |13, pivoted at |14, to a lug |15 formed in base plate 22, to rock successively to three diierent positions. The pawl |61 has attached thereto a spring |16 which tends to draw said pawl and the amature |66 downwardly (Figs. 4 and 9). A non-return pawl |11, also operated by spring |16 and pivoted on bracket |69, prevents reverse movement of ratchet wheel |10. Y

The cam follower lever |13," besides having a lug |18 normally resting on the periphery o! cam |12, has a bent over lug |19 on an extension of said lever, to which lug is attached a spring |60 secured to a lug in base plate 22. This spring |80 keeps lug |18 in contact with the periphery oi' cam |12 so that the lever |13 responds to every movement of the lobes in the cam. Both ends oi' lever |13 have opposed jaws embracing the edge of at strips |8I, pivoted along one edge, as at |62, to lugs |83 formed in casing 20. The left hand strip |8| (Fig. 5) is common to the left-hand row of recording units, while the righthand strip |8| is common to the right-hand row of recording units. Each of the U-shaped levers |58 carrying the prickers |59 has a horizontal arm |84 having opposed jaws loosely embracing one of the strips |8|. The arms 84 of the lefthand levers |58 (Fig. 5) associated with the lefthand row of recording units (Fig. 1) are condescribed herein..

nected, as described, to the left-hand strip |8| (Fig. 5), while the levers |58 of the right-hand row of recording units are connected to the righthand strip |8|.

'I'he arms |84 are not rigidly secured to levers |58 but a yielding connection is provided to permit arms 84 to move independently of levers |58. Secured to each lever |58 is a short sleeve |85 which is journaled on stud |51 (see Fig. 1'7). A short arm |86 (Figs. 5 and 8) is secured to the left end of each sleeve' |85 (Fig. 17) and extends parallel with arm |84 which is loosely mounted on sleeve |85 between arm |86 and lever |58. A light spring |81 yieldingly connects arm |86 with a\ bent over lug formed in arm |84. This construction permits arm |84 to move relative tolever |58 when the pricker pin |59 of said lever has been projected into the card and. locked in this position by the depression of the start key 89 and allows the strips |8| to vibrate freely in case the rate control mechanism operates while the time of a toll call is being measured. 'I'his condition is very apt to occur at 4:30 a. m., '1:00 p. m., and 8:30 p. m. when a toll call begins before and terminates after these stated times. The arms |84 and levers |58 of those recording units which are not in use will move together at the times stated above.

'Ihis construction has a two-fold purpose. First, to permit the rate control mechanism to operate with respect to inactive units when the prickers of active recording units have been projected through a card and locked. If the yieldlng connection were not provided and thick record sheets or cards wereused, the pricker of a single active unit would prevent the rate control mechanism from being effective with respect to the inactive units when a change in rate occurs during the period of activity of the active unit. Second, when thin record sheets are used, to prevent tearing the sheets in pockets of active recording units by the operation of the rate control mechanism during the periods of activity of acv tive units.

In Fig. 4, the lug |18 rests on the point of a cam lobe intermediate the high and low points of such lobe, so that lever |13, strips |8|. and arms |84 are all horizontal. In this position of the parts, all the levers |58 are in their central positions and the depression of any key 88 will cause a puncture to be made in the center box |53 denoting the evening rate. If an additional step of movement is imparted to ratchet wheel |10 by magnet RM and pawl |61 causing the cam |12 to advance sufciently to bring the high point of the lobe under lug |18, lever |13 will be moved to the position of Fig. 9. 'I'his movement causes the strips |8| to rock clockwise (Figs. 4, 5, and 9) and causes al1 the levers |58 (except those whose prickers are pushed into cards) to rock counterciockwise (Fig. 5) to bring the pricker pins |59 opposite the left-hand or day rate box |53 (Fig. 2). Another step of movement of cam |12 will cause the lug |18 to drop into the dwell between lobes with the result thatA the left-hand strip |8| (Fig. 5) will be raised above the horizontal position of said gure while the right-hand strip I8| will be depressed. The levers |58 will in such case be rocked clockwise to bring pricker pins |59 opposite the right-hand box |53 (Fig. 2) denoting the night rate.

These movements of cam |12 and levers |58 are successive throughout each day and are produced at predetermined times by the rate magnet RM under control of the contacts 13, 14, 18.

These contacts are all closed only three times each twenty-four hours, that is, at 4:30 a. m., '1:00 p. m., and 8:30 p. m. This arrangement causes the pricker pins |59 to successively assume positions opposite the D, E, and N boxes |53 at 4:30 a. m., '1:00 p. m., and 8:30 p. m., respectively, in the order named.

The uses and mode of operation of the toll recorder will now be described briefly.

The recorder will be mounted on the switchboard in a position easily reached by the operators-hands. A stack of the record sheets of Fig. 2 will be provided and, for ease in writing on them, they may be assembled in pads. As a convenience to the operator in keeping track of the calls, which at times may approach or equal in number the capacity of the machine, the usual cord circuits may be numbered to correspond with the numbers in the squares in Fig. 1 identifying the recording units.

When a subscriber requests a connection with another subscriber over a toll line, the operator, while she is awaiting a response from the called subscriber. will note on the top sheet of the pad the numbers of the calling and called subscribers, tear off such sheet, and place it in the slot 81 of the pocket corresponding to the number of the cord circuit she has used to make the connection. As soon as the called subscriber answers, the operator will depress the key 88 associated with the slot A81 which has been selected to receive the card thereby coupling the friction disks I9, |20 of the selected recording unit to the corresponding friction disks ||0, to initiate operation of the selected recording unit and force its pricker pin |59 into the sheet. The latter will now be locked into the recorder and can be removed without tearing it only by depressing the finish key 89 of the selected recording unit. The pricker arms |4| of the selected recording unit will now commence t rotate under the influence of friction disks |18,

Eventually the subscribers will nish their conversation and terminate the call. When this happens the operator will depress key 89 of the proper recording unit thereby forcing pricker pins |43 into-the card at points dependent upon the length of the conversation between the subscribers. The sheet can now be, removed and dropped into a basket or hopper ready to be taken to the accounting department for use in the computation, posting, and billing of the charges for the call. The dates can be pre-stamped with a rubber stamp or can be stamped at the end of each day when the cards are collected, this operation being done by a clerk, if desired.

It will be seen that little time, effort, and intelligence is required to operate the recorder and more time is made available for the operator to devote her attention to the switchboard. 0bviously more calls can be supervised by the operator since she will have little work of a clerical nature to perform and the records of the calls will be kept more accurately owing to the simplicity of operation of the recorder.

Since ink or inking devices are not used in the recorder, no time is lost in re-inking the recorder or changing and adjusting inkng devices such as ribbons or pads, cleaning the type faces of type wheels or bars usually used in recorders, and making minor repairs or adjustments sometimes arising from corrosion caused by the ink or excessive supplies of ink.

While there has been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the a,oes,sss 7 invention as appliedtoasingle modiilcation, it will the pocket, means for variably setting the rate be understood that various omissions and substimarker at predetermined times, and a yielding by the scope ot the following claims. card pockets, rockable rate recording elements What is claimed is as follows: adapted to be variably rocked to indicate dif- 1. A time recorder comprising a drive shaft ferent rates and each movable inw contact with having a constant speed, an elapsed time recordh ing unit adapted to be driven by said drive shaft operative at predetermined times to variably on a record sheet individual to said unit. markers adapted to mark a record sheet, means 2. An elapsed time unit comprising a pocket for operating one o1' said markers to mark the -for receiving a record sheet, a start key and a record sheet and lock said sheet in markim posifinish key, a rotary marker adapted to mark a tion, a device for locking said means in operated sheet in said pocket, a friction disk secured to said position, and means for operating the other marker, a second friction disk driven at a constant marker to mark the sheet and adapted to release speed, a friction idler operated by the start key the locking device.

for connecting said disks frictionally whereby the 9. In an elapsed time recorder comprising a nrst disk is driven by the second. means operated sexies of elapsed time recording units, the comsheet, and means operated by the finish key said drive, a second series of selective devices for releasing the holding means. each associated with a unit and the correspond- 3. In an elapsed time recorder having several ing one of the rst named selecting device, and elapsed time recording units the combination of means rendered eective upon an operation o! units; and other keys for selectively terminating 10. An elapsed time unit comprising a pocket operation of the units and releasing said elements. adapted to receive a record Sheet; an arm ro- 4. An elapsed time unit comprising a rotary tatable in a plane a spaced distance from a rectime pricker device; a card pocket in spaced relaord sheet in said pocket and a stylus secured to 6. In an elapsed time unit,'a card pocket, a by the terminating keys when operation of the rockable rate marker variably settable and units isto be terminated. l adapted to be projected against a card in said 12. In an elapsed time recorder having a plu- .iected position toprevent removal ofthe cardfrom ating the latter at a constant rate, a series oi' selective devices each operable to selectively connect a unit associated therewith to said drive, rate recording mechanism, and means responsive to an operation of any one of said selective, devices to operate the rate recording mechanism each time one of said selecting devices is operated to connect a unit to said drive.

13. An elapsed time recorder comprising a card pocket, an elapsed time marking means so constructed and arranged as to be displaceable in a plane parallel with a card inserted in said pocket and also projectable towardthe card to make a mark, a time drive for displacing the marking means parallel with the card in proportion to elapsed time, a pair of manually operable members, means controlled by one of said members for connecting the marking means to the time drive, and means controlled by the other of said members for projecting the marking means toward the card to mark the card and disconnect the marking means from the time drive.

14. In a telephone toll recorder, thecombination with a series of elapsed time recording elements, each being associated with a receptacle for a record sheet individual to'a single call; of elapsed time driving means associated with said elements and normally disconnected therefrom, selectively operable means for controlling the operation of said elements by the driving means, means operated by the selectively operable means for maintaining a. driving relation between a selected recording element and the driving means, and means operated by the selectively operable means for causing an element connected to the driving means to record elapsed time on a record sheet in the' associated receptacle and at the same time disable the maintaining means.

GEORGE R. WOOD. 

